Estey Organ Company

David Estey is related to the Estey's who established the Vermont-based Estey Organ Company in 1846 as well as the Estey Piano factory in New York. Pianos must be in his blood as David became a piano technician before opening his own store in New Jersey. Along the way he decided to create a line of Estey pianos, made in China, and tuned and voiced by hand in America. The success led to his expansion on the Internet where "esteypiano.com" has gained customers unaffected by the location of the store.

Enrico Monaci loved to hear the stories of his uncle, who started the ORLA Company to make parts for accordions.  The company expanded over the years and Enrico grew up helping in every element of the business.  During the 1950s they began making reed organs and within a decade the company created electronic keyboards.  Along the way they built parts or full instruments for such companies as Hohner, Baldwin, Hammond, and Wurlitzer.  In the 1980s ORLA even made a special brand of Estey Organs for the Fletcher Music Centers.  The company continues to be active in digital pianos arou

Les Nicholas was hired as an engineer to assist the famed electronic music inventor Harold Bode.  Mr. Bode was given a lab within the Estey Organ Company In Brattleboro, Vermont in 1954.  The company wanted to expand it's products to include an electronic organ.  To assist with the task he hired Les in 1955 and the two created the star of the art Estey Electronic Organ, first the S and then the AS1 models.  Harold left the company in 1959 and would go on to write an article on modular synthesizers that would be the inspiration of a young Bob Moog.  Les stayed another year with Est

Ned Phoenix of Townshend, Vermont, a reed organ player and restorer since 1970, is the founder of the Estey Organ Museum in Brattleboro, Vermont. Ned is fond of saying, "This may be the only museum in the world where every visitor, regardless of age or ability, is encouraged to play all the instruments."

Georg Steinmeyer was the factory supervisor at the Estey Organ Company in Brattleboro, Vermont. He joined the company in the years following World War II when he moved from Germany to the United States. He worked to streamline the product costs within the company while ensuring the orders were completed by the crew on time. After Estey closed in 1960 he remained in the industry. Georg was an early supporter of the Estey Organ Museum, which is now located in one of the original factory buildings in Brattleboro.

Dennis Waring has created his own line of musical products made out of cardboard.  The harp and guitars are a fun way to get people playing a musical instrument, which is his main goal.  He is also a historian and ethnomusicologist for the industry with the publication of his book on the history of the Estey Organ Company, in his 2002 publication "Manufacturing the Muse: Estey Organs & Consumer Culture in Victorian America."  Dennis is also a strong supporter of the growing Estey Organ Museum, which was established in one of the original factory buildings in 2002.  His goal of

John Wessel was born in Holland and recalled with a stern face his World War II memories of running from the Nazi's. He was just one step ahead of the SS on several occasions. After the war he relocated to America where he found a sponsor in the Estey Organ Company. Before the war John had worked in several organ companies in Europe and brought a depth of knowledge to the Vermont Company. At Estey he was a pipe voicer and pipe organ finisher - when an organ was set up in the church he would revoice and regulate pipes as needed and make sure everything was correct. In 1960 he finis